Labor Force

FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT LABOR FORCE - PAGE 2

WASHINGTON -- Population trends indicate women, minorities and immigrants will comprise the vast bulk of additions to the nation`s labor force in coming decades, Labor Secretary William Brock told Congress Friday. "The number of young workers will decline, but the proportion of the youth labor force that is minority will increase," Brock said. Noting the 40.8 percent unemployment rate for young blacks, Brock told a Joint Economic Committee subpanel hearing on demographic trends that tighter labor markets should offer an opportunity to move these "at-risk" youth "into the mainstream."

Florida`s unemployment rate dropped to 4.6 percent in October, the lowest level since December 1973 and the largest single monthly drop since the state began keeping records in 1970, Gov. Bob Graham said Friday. In September, joblessness ran at 6.4 percent. The national figure for October was 7.1 percent, the same as for September, Graham said. "This is extremely good news for Florida, indicating a strong labor market and continued growth in our state`s economy," Graham said. Only two states among the 11 most populous registered lower unemployment rates: Massachussetts, with 3.8 percent, and North Carolina, with 4.4 percent.

Dade County has the highest unemployment rate in South Florida, with Palm Beach County running a close second. There are 461,812 people in the labor force in Palm Beach County. Of those, 428,534 are unemployed and 22,278 are without jobs. Unemployment rates for June 1996 for Palm Beach, Broward and Dade counties and the state: Palm 7.2% Broward 5.3% Dade 7.5% Florida 5.0% SOURCE: Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners Financial Management Status Report, Quarter Ended June 30, 1996

From the Agency for Workforce Innovation: Florida?s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March 2009 is 9.7 percent. This represents 893,000 jobless out of a labor force of 9,210,000. The unemployment rate is 0.1 percentage point higher than the revised February rate of 9.6 percent and is up 4.3 percentage points from the March 2008 rate. The state?s current unemployment rate is 1.2 percentage points higher than the national unemployment rate of 8.5 percent.

Florida unemployment was unchanged at 8.6 percent in June, the state said Friday. But jobless rates in Broward and Palm Beach counties rose to 7.7 percent from 7.3 percent and to 9.2 percent from 8.6 percent, respectively. Still, Broward added 3,800 jobs since May and Palm Beach added 800 jobs in seasonally adjusted numbers. County unemployment rates are not adjusted. The state added 9,000 jobs since May and 70,900 jobs since June 2011, according to Florida's Department of Economic Opportunity.

Can't blame American workers for feeling devalued on this Labor Day. Especially given all the dour news about companies moving jobs overseas, worries about health and other benefits as well as the apparent scarcity of well-paying positions. In fact, it's no surprise the Consumer Confidence Index registered a sharp drop in August. The New York-based Conference Board, the group that produces the monthly survey, said an economic slowdown curbed confidence and dented optimism. All this means it's time for a Labor Day pep talk.

Peter Francese, a former member of the Census Bureau`s Population Advisory Committee, is publisher of American Demographics magazine, February 16, 1986

One of every four working women has a child under 12 years old -- and that explains why having employers pay for or provide day care is the most talked about fringe benefit today. With a record 13.3 million mothers of young children in the labor force, the need for safe and reliable child care is enormous and increasing daily. The most acute need appears to be for the youngest children, since most women who have babies today already are in the labor force and they usually cannot afford to be out of work for very long.